PennPORT

• Current Fellows
• Kimberly S. Williams, PhD

Kimberly S. Williams, PhD

Department of Pathology,
University of Pennsylvania

Education

• Research mentor: Kelly Jordan-Scuitto, PhD; University of Pennsylvania

Research Topic: Neuroimmunology

My research interest is to understand macrophage regulation in hopes of identifying novel strategies to prevent HIV associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND).  Macrophages and microglia carry the major burden of HIV in the brain and once activated secrete unknown substance, leading to inflammation and neuronal damage. Under normal conditions, macrophage/microglia cells are able to utilize the endogenous antioxidant response to decrease oxidative stress and inflammation by increasing heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) levels. However, in HIV patients, HO-1 levels are reduced in HAND patients. Studies have shown that African Americans have a higher prevalence for longer GT (GT_nL) repeats in the HO-1 gene promoter region, and GT_nL correlates with increased HIV loads and decreased HO-1 activity in M/Ms. My current project explores the relationship between the presence of GT_nL repeats in African Americans and M/M phenotypes during primary HIV infection. I also hope to characterize the efficacy of Secoisolariciresinol diglucose (SDG), a flaxseed lignan, as a targeted therapeutic for African American patients with GT_nL repeats. SDG has been shown to have both anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory clinical efficiency in other inflammatory diseases that are common in African Americans, including diabetes and heart disease, and is capable of crossing into the brain, making it a prime therapeutic candidate for HAND in this especially vulnerable patient population. My overarching goal is to increase diversity in the sciences by teaching and mentoring the next generation of scientists while also leading a research program focused on the development of new targeted therapies for neuroinflammatory disorders.  

Publications

Journal Publications 

• Sanni B., Williams K., Sokolov E., Sokolova I. Effects of acclimation temperature and cadmium exposure on mitochondrial aconitase and LON protease from a model marine ectotherm, Crassostrea virginica. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, 147C:101-112 (2008).
• Meeker, R. B., Williams, K., Killebrew, D. A. & Hudson, L. C. Cell trafficking through the choroid plexus. Cell Adh Migr 6, 390-396, doi:10.4161/cam.21054 (2012).
• Meeker, R. & Williams, K. Dynamic nature of the p75 neurotrophin receptor in response to injury and disease. J Neuroimmune Pharmacol 9, 615-628, doi:10.1007/s11481-014-9566-9 (2014).
• Williams, K. S., Killebrew, D. A., Clary, G. P., Seawell, J. A. & Meeker, R. B. Differential regulation of macrophage phenotype by mature and pro-nerve growth factor. J Neuroimmunol 285, 76-93, doi:10.1016/j.jneuroim.2015.05.016 (2015).
• Williams, K. S., Killebrew, D. A., Clary, G. P. & Meeker, R. B. Opposing Effects of NGF and proNGF on HIV Induced Macrophage Activation. J Neuroimmune Pharmacol, doi:10.1007/s11481-015-9631-z (2015).

Book Chapters 

• Xu Feng & Jason W Ashley, “Metabolic Bone Disease II,” pp. 829-837, Pathobiology of Human Disease, ISBN: 978-0-12-386457-4 
• Jing Zou & Jason W Ashley, “Fluorosis,” pp. 893-898, Pathobiology of Human Disease, ISBN: 978-0-12-386457-4 
   

Contact info:

Kimberly S. Williams, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Department of Pathology
University of Pennsylvania

E-mail: kimsade@dental.upenn.edu